Scooter Libby — What Dreams May Come
The Libby trial went to the jury today, and deliberations will likely take awhile. However, I expect a definite verdict — the judge will keep sending them back till they get one; no hung jury will fly. And in the end, the guilty will outweigh the not guilty, and Libby will go down. But the big question is, "what then?"
Perhaps the most noteworthy points were made in prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's closing arguments. This summary makes it clear that Fitzgerald considers the larger question of who leaked Plame's name and whether they did so knowing she was an undercover CIA operative to be far from closed. When the guilty verdict comes back, Fitzgerald can — and probably will — use sentencing as leverage to get Libby's cooperation in this regard.
According to testimony in the Libby trial, Libby himself leaked the name to at least one journalist, Matt Cooper of Time, while Karl Rove and former deputy Sec. of State Richard Armitage dropped the dime to at least two journalists apiece. That all of these leaks came in such close proximity to each other obviously means a commandment from above to get this done. Dick Cheney's head is still on the chopping block, if not Bush's.
For a larger account of the possible impeachment of Dick, check out The People vs. Richard Cheney in this month's GQ. Telling stuff.